Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman emerged after Sunday's 93-72 victory ended their two-game losing streak and remarked how the ball moved better offensively against the Wizards that afternoon than it had before in this still young season.

So with the starting lineup modified to compensate for the absence of injured Michael Beasley, just why was that?

"Um," Wolves forward Kevin Love said, "Mike being out?"

He smiled as he said that and then added "I'm just kidding" twice.

Ricky Rubio's 14 assists helped the Wolves record more assists (22) than turnovers (16) for the first time since their season-opening loss to Oklahoma City.

On Sunday, Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman remarked how well the basketball moved in a victory over the winless Wizards in Washington. Kevin Love, in a postgame comment he clarified as "just kidding," attributed that fluidity to injured Michael Beasley's absence.

On Monday, Adelman was asked about Love's comment.

"I think all the players, coaches and myself, we're all in this together," said Adelman, who said he wasn't aware of Love's comment. "To put our offensive struggles on Michael is not really very realistic. The whole team has struggled and everybody on this team, we all have to look at each other and ask how we're going to get better.

"Everybody has their own little quirks, and I can name a lot of guys who haven't moved the ball for a lot of reasons. Our turnovers, our guys are trying to do some things maybe they can't do. They have to learn what that is, and Michael is no different in that area. We've got to trust each other and know that we've got each other's back."

Beasley, who turned 23 Monday, sprained his right foot in Friday's home loss to Cleveland and is out at least through Tuesday's game against Chicago.